Private Albert D.J. Cashier served in the ranks of the 95th Illinois from their muster in on 4th September 1862 until they were discharged in August 1865. A member of the regiment’s Company G, he witnessed some hard fighting at battles such as Vicksburg and Nashville. A comrade later remembered that he was the shortest person in the company, kept to himself and didn’t take part in any of the sports or games organised by the unit. The Irishman was not all he appeared; though he served as Private Albert Cashier, he had in fact been born Jennie Hodgers- a woman. (1)

Jennie Hodgers was born in Clogherhead, Co. Louth in 1843. She emigrated to the United States shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. It is thought her uncle may have got her a job in an all-male shoe factory on her arrival in America, a position that perhaps opened her eyes to the possibilities of masquerading as a man. She next appears when she presented herself for enlistment in Belvidere, Illinois on 3rd August 1862 as one Albert Cashier. No detailed medical examination took place, which might have revealed her true sex. She was duly signed up, and was described on her enrollment as having a light complexion, blue eyes and auburn hair. For the following three years she would march across the South with her regiment, never raising any suspicions as to her true identity. (2)

It is remarkable that Jennie/Albert successfully concealed her womanhood on campaign, a task that must have been a considerable additional burden to carry on top of what was already a tough war. She clearly felt that life as a male offered her more opportunities, for on mustering out she chose to continue as Albert Cashier. After some time as a laborer in Belvidere Jennie moved to Saunemin, Illinois in 1869. She would remain here for over 40 years, living out her life as a man. (3)

The Pension Index Card of Albert D.J. Cashier (Image via Footnote)

Jennie Hodger’s successfully lived as Albert Cashier well into the 20th century. An illness and a leg-break had led to her true sex being revealed to some friends, but they agreed not to disclose it publicly. As age caught up with her she moved to the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Quincy, Illinois, and it was here in 1913 that Jennie’s secret came out. The news caused a sensation as papers around the country broke the story. A reporter writing in the The Hartford Republican went to visit Cashier (her real name did not emerge for some time) and described the scene: I had expected to meet an amazon. A woman who had fought in the death grapple of a nation and had lived and toiled as a man through half a century should be big, strong and masculine. And when I entered her hospital ward there rose and came to meet me, in her faded soldier’s uniform, just a little frail, sweet-faced, old-lady, who might be anybody’s grandmother. (4)

Unfortunately Albert/Jennie was eventually moved to an insane asylum, where she died on 11th October 1914. The house where she lived still survives in Saunemin, and her headstone in the local cemetery now bears both of the Irishwoman’s names; Jennie Hodgers, the girl who emigrated to the United States, and Albert Cashier, the veteran of the American Civil War. (5)

I have recently written an ebook on the life and times of Albert Cashier entitled, “A Velvet Fist in an Iron Glove: The Curious Case of Albert Cashier” published by Kindle Ebooks at Amazon.com. It is an historical/fiction novel in which I have attempted to fill in the missing years in Albert’s life in a plausible and sympathetic light. Please check it out at Amazon.com.
Martin J. Bradford

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[…] Read the amazing story of Jenny Hodgers from Clogherhead, Co Louth, who enlisted and served as a man on the Union side in the American Civil War,under the name of Albert D Cashier. Read her story here . […]

[…] Many of you will have heard the story of Pvt. Albert D. J. Cashier, Co. G, 95th Illinois Infantry. Private Cashier was born a woman, Jennie Hodgers (1843-1915). My colleague Damian Shiels, who blogs at Irish in the American Civil War, recently told her story here. […]